About a dozen women attended a coloring session at Noah’s Art of North Raleigh on Tuesday. Some people say coloring is a great way to relax and get in touch with their inner child.
MECHELLE HANKERSON
mhankerson@newsobserver.com

About a dozen women attended a coloring session at Noah’s Art of North Raleigh on Tuesday. Some people say coloring is a great way to relax and get in touch with their inner child.
MECHELLE HANKERSON
mhankerson@newsobserver.com

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Coloring has become more popular among adults, as a way to de-stress or just have fun. This week, three coloring books are among the top 12 bestsellers on Amazon, including the well-known “Secret Garden.”

Mull said her grandmother loved to color, so the family supplied her with coloring books made for children.

But it doesn’t always have to be about princesses, teddy bears and unicorns. Now books geared toward adults are available.

Mull has hosted only a couple of adult coloring events, but she said they are well-attended and well-received.

“I think there’s something about being able to tune out everything,” she said. “Our minds need a way to reboot, and coloring is a great way to do it.”

Mull has replaced nightly TV-watching sessions with coloring at her house. She said she has more conversations with her 6- and 8-year-old daughters, and it keeps them from using technology so much.

At her studio, Mull is using adult coloring to support a cause. Money from the classes benefits Hope Reins, a North Raleigh organization that uses horses for children’s therapy programs.

For adults, coloring can be a break from the daily grind.

“It’s out of the ordinary,” said Andrea Lish, who was at Noah’s Art on Tuesday. “It’s more interesting than sitting down for a meal.”

Lish said she colors with her child sometimes, but she doesn’t sit down to color by herself. She liked the idea of being able to catch up with friends somewhere casual.

The casual atmosphere is key, Mull said. Some art events, like paint and wine sessions in which participants paint under the instruction of a teacher, can seem overwhelming for people without a lot of artistic talent.

“People are intimidated by art, but they don’t have to be with coloring,” Mull said.

Noah’s Art of North Raleigh will host an adult coloring night from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5. The event costs $25 and includes a coloring book to take home. Noah’s Art is located at 1141 Falls River Ave.